Rugby not the only winner

Biggest saga: Sonny Bill Williams. Photo / Christine Cornege

In a stellar rugby season for New Zealand, and with a nod in the direction of the official rugby awards, Gregor Paul makes his own decisions about the best of the best (and the worst) of 2011

Best Decision
To keep the selection door open for Cory Jane. The Hurricanes wing was in horrible form throughout Super Rugby. His head was scrambled by the birth of his third child; the difficulty of deciding whether to shift overseas in 2012 and the civil war raging in his franchise between new coach Mark Hammett and the senior players. He sneaked into the initial All Black squad as injury cover for Isaia Toeava and used that opportunity to find his form and confidence. Given his influence in the knockout rounds and ability to take high balls and launch counter-attacks, the All Blacks would have been in trouble without him.

Worst Decision
Of the six players shortlisted for the IRB Player of the year awards, two were Hurricanes at the start of 2011. Neither Ma'a Nonu nor Piri Weepu ended the season as Hurricanes, however, after Hammett made the high-risk call to axe the world's best second five. That led to Weepu packing his bags, with Aaron Cruden and Hosea Gear also leaving. Hammett has a vision about the culture he wants to build - he wants to turn the Hurricanes into the Crusaders and to that end saw no room for Nonu, whom he felt was petulant and disruptive. But Nonu is the ultimate team man when he's with the All Blacks and doesn't say boo to a goose. He's also a brilliant operator in the midfield and Hammett is likely to be horrified this season when Nonu, who will be with the Blues, rips through the Hurricanes' flimsy midfield.

Best Transformation
Jarrad Hoeata was unwanted by the Chiefs by the end of 2010 and the lock-cum-blindside was in trouble off the field where he was charged with drink driving and lost his licence. He agreed a move to the struggling Highlanders and also decided to give up the booze, do community work and enrol at university. He was the rock on whom the Highlanders' recovery was built and his reward was a call-up to the All Blacks.

Unsung Hero
It is only now that Alando Soakai has gone to Japan that his value will be fully appreciated. The Highlanders' openside gave years of loyal service and was at his peak in 2011. Rarely troubled by injury and able to front week after week, his stats were among the best. He made an obscene number of tackles, grafted for the ball and linked the play. A quality, consistent operator who deserved greater recognition.

Biggest Villain
Luke McAlister was welcomed home in 2009 like the prodigal son. The NZRU threw cash at him and then bent their own rules to rush him back into the All Blacks. The love flowed only one way. McAlister never found his feet and a few quiet tests in 2009 were followed by him missing most of 2010 with injury. He threatened on occasion in 2011 but drifted in the second half of the Blues' campaign to the extent he was shifted to fullback. When he missed the All Blacks - by some distance - he went awol from North Harbour. He emerged after a few days' radio silence to ask for an early contract release as he had signed with Toulouse. It was granted and strangely, having complained of a hamstring injury that kept him out of action for Harbour, McAlister miraculously recovered when he arrived in France to make an immediate impact.

Biggest Saga
Sonny Bill Williams likes a drama and turned his contract situation into a soap opera. Just as everyone thought he was locked in for 2012, it emerged he was only verbally committed and then two weeks before the World Cup kicked off, he said he was no longer sure. The Blues and Chiefs were left hanging, as were the New Zealand Rugby Union, until the final day players had to commit. Only then did Williams sign his contract extension and agree to join the Chiefs.

Best Try
Will Genia's match winner for the Reds in the Super Rugby final was a cracker. He danced about, suddenly saw a hole and took off. He kept running, the defence kept backing off and, before anyone realised what was happening, the little halfback had run 60 metres through the best defensive side in the competition to score an incredible try without a hand being laid on him.

Biggest Surprise
Dan Carter was struck down with an iffy hamstring midway through the campaign forcing Mat Berquist into the No 10 shirt. His first outing was against the champion Bulls and Berquist, a journeyman who had never really shown himself to be anything other than provincial quality, emerged as the hero of the night. He was composed, accurate and decisive - knocked over his goals, passed and ran neatly, and put his side in all the right places. He kept that up for the entire period Carter was injured.

Best Team Performance
When the Highlanders went to Pretoria in round three, they were given no chance. The hapless Highlanders . . . against the champion Bulls who hadn't lost at home for almost three years. The Bulls were the ones gasping by the end - run off their feet by a supremely organised and physical Highlanders side who won 35-28. Second Best Team Performance On limited preparation and with jet lag, the Crusaders managed a spectacular effort against the Sharks at Twickenham. It was a performance that showcased Super Rugby at its best. Even the dreary Brits could appreciate the skill and enterprise.

Best Individual Performance
Quade Cooper was at his enigmatic best in the Super Rugby semifinal. He tormented the Blues who tried to pin him down but just couldn't. With space and time, Cooper showed why he's held in such high regard by Wallaby coach Robbie Deans.

Biggest Disappointment
After a high impact start to the campaign, Crusaders centre Robbie Fruean fizzled out. His busting runs became infrequent and his influence in the big games was negligible.

Second Biggest Disappointment
Former World Junior Player of the Year Julian Savea had a rotten 2011. He was a liability by the end of the season - unable to catch the ball or finish moves, it was impossible not to feel sorry for him.

Third Biggest Disappointment
The All Blacks deciding it was okay for players to wear coloured boots. What was wrong with wearing black boots? Why this need for players to express themselves at all times?

Best Comeback (team)
The Blues nearly pulled off a spectacular save in Brisbane after going 24-0 down to the Reds in as many minutes. They had a chance to win but were edged out 37-32. Leinster, however, did sustain their incredible comeback in the Heineken Cup final. Down 22-6 to Northampton at the break, they went ballistic in the second half, running riot. They won 32-22.

Best Comeback (individual)
Not even the All Black selectors thought Israel Dagg would be fit in time for the World Cup after damaging his thigh against the Stormers in early May. But Dagg defied the medics, worked his way back to full fitness ahead of expectations and then, after just one half of provincial rugby, played a world-class game in Port Elizabeth.

Most Contentious Call
The Crusaders led the Reds 16-14 in their round-robin game in Brisbane. There was a minute left when Richie McCaw believed he'd legally counter-rucked and come through the gate. He felt he was therefore entitled to pick up the ball - but referee Stu Dickinson had a different view and awarded the Reds a match-winning penalty. It was the wrong call and gave the Reds home advantage in the playoffs.

Best Newcomer
Fritz Lee was a handful at No 8 for the Chiefs. He looked to have the raw power and work rate to become a serious All Black contender. He was Sione Lauaki but with the desire to play for 80 minutes and not 10-minute bursts.

Second Best Newcomer
Aaron Smith was a more than useful back-up halfback to Jimmy Cowan at the Highlanders. Relatively small by modern standards, Smith fired bullet passes and knew when to run. He'll put pressure on Cowan this year to hold his place.

Best Coach
Ewen McKenzie handled the Reds superbly. He didn't really have a game plan as such - which was a clever ploy. He let Cooper and Genia play as they saw things and that clearly worked.

Best Game
In terms of pure entertainment and frivolous enjoyment - the Hurricanes' 50-47 win against the Cheetahs was hard to beat. There wasn't really any tackling going on but the finale was classic - lock Jeremy Thrush flying down the wing for the winning try.

Best Single Act
Cory Jane was on borrowed time - he'd been granted a selection reprieve when he lined up to play the Springboks in Wellington. Early in he first half, he was sent free on the right, just Morne Steyn left to beat. The crowd were on their feet - what would the out of form Jane do? He backed himself, angled in, then out, and skipped past Steyn as if he wasn't there. It was at that moment the selectors knew Jane was back and knew he was going to be in their World Cup squad.

Worst Single Act
How on earth the citing commissioner concluded it was accidental that Quade Cooper kneed Richie McCaw in the head was a travesty of justice. Cooper had a long running feud with the All Black skipper and appeared to quite deliberately bash his knee into McCaw during the final Tri Nations test in Brisbane.

Best Sporting Act
Brad Thorn was hurting when the Crusaders lost the Super Rugby final in Brisbane. The defeat mentally shattered him but he never let it show. He made sure he didn't leave Suncorp until he'd thanked and congratulated every Reds player. It was a big gesture from a big man.

Biggest Flop
Quade Cooper never got close to replicating his Super Rugby form in the test arena and would be a contender for biggest flop. But Rene Ranger pips him - the Blues wing failing to fire the way he did in 2010. There was next to nothing from Ranger - a great try against the Crusaders in the opening game and then . . . weeks of waiting.